By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has announced an additional 61 athletes to the Team South Africa squad that will carry the nation’s flag at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk will miss the Commonwealth Games, He is still trying to recapture his form after undergoing knee surgery in 2017.
Van Niekerk withdrew from the SA championships in April as a precautionary measure, pulled up in a 200m race in Italy in May, and completed only his first race of the season, a 400m in the US, this past weekend. That performance at least showed he had reasonable form before the world championships from July 15 to 24.
An Athletics SA board member said selections were based on performances from January 1 until mid-June, during which Van Niekerk didn’t complete a race.
A further 61 competitors across six codes were added to Team SA on Monday, bringing the total to take part in England to 251 — 57 more than the squad that went to Gold Coast 2018.
The bulk of the team for the Birmingham spectacle that runs from the 28th of July until August 8 was announced last month.
Codes announced on Monday:
Athletics
Women: Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), Dominique Scott (10,000m,) Zenéy Van der Walt (400mH/4x400m), Yolandi Stander (discus), Jo-Ane van Dyk (javelin), Marioné Fourie (100mH) Miranda Coetzee (4x400m), Gontse Morake (4x400m), Taylon Bieldt (4x400m), Shirley Nekhubui (4x400m)
Men: Akani Simbine (100m/4×100), Henrico Bruintjies (4X100m), Emile Erasmus (4x100m), Gift Leotlela (4x100m), Clarence Munyai (100m/4×100), Zakithi Nene (400m), Tshepo Tshite (800m), Ryan Mphahlele (1500m), Adriaan Wildschutt (5,000m/10,000m), Sokwakhana Zazini (400mH), Kyle Rademeyer (pole vault), Jovan van Vuuren (long jump), Cheswill Johnson (long jump), Kyle Blignaut (shot put), Tshepang Makhethe (hammer throw), Luxolo Adams (200m/4x100m)
Manager: Tshifhiwa MakhoshiCoaches: Shaun Bownes, Adam Motlagale, Pierre Blignaut
Paralympic Athletics
Women: Liezel Gouws (100m T37), Martha Potgieter (shot put F57
Badminton
Johanita Scholtz (singles/doubles/mixed), Jarred Elliott (doubles/mixed doubles), Robert Summers (singles/doubles), Deidre Laurens (doubles/mixed), Caden Kakora (singles/doubles
Coach: Stewart Carson )
Wrestling
Arno Van Zijl (freestyle — 74KG), Edward Lessing (freestyle — 86kg), Steyn De Lange (freestyle — 97KG), Tanki Tau (freestyle — 57kg)
Coach: Bennie Labuschagne
Swimming
Men: Clayton Jimmie (4×100 free relay)
Women: Trinity Hearne (4×100 medley relay)
Hockey
Men: Mustaphaa Cassiem, Connor Beauchamp, Timothy Drummond, Nduduzo Lembethe, Keenan Horne, Tevin Kok, Le-Neal Jackson, Matthew Guise-Brown, Abdud-Dayaan Cassiem, Taine Paton, Ryan Julius, Jethro Eustice, Daniel Bell, Nicholas Spooner, Siyavuya Nolutshungu, Nqobile Ntuli, Samkelo Mvimbi, Gowan Jones
Reserves: Senzwesihle Ngubane, Matthew Stephen De SousaManager: Nhlanhla Mlambo
Coaches: Gareth Ewing, Siphesihle Ntuli
Video analyst: Ashlin Fredd
Gymnastics
Men: Muhammad Khaalid Mia (artistic)
Coach: Kevin Basso
Women: Kayla Ron
Coach: Aimee Van Rooyendin.